Refrigerating apparatus



Sept. 15, 1936. c, MANN 2,054,482

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, c NN I REFR IGERAT ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February 26, 1932, Serial No. 595,354

10 Claims.

This invention relates in a general way to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to the submerging of open box-like structures such as the linings of the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinet in a submerging bath.

In automatic machines for immersing articles in a plurality of different submerging baths, there has been difiiculty when it is desired to submerge open box-like structures in different baths by means of such a machine. The difliculties with these open box-like structures have been that they tend to float upon the bath when they reach the surface thereof, and that when the structures are submerged, there are air pockets formed within the inside of the structure preventing the wetting of the surfacesnear'such air pockets.

Consequently, it is among the objects of my invention to automatically submerge a box-like structure in a bath in such a way that the tendency of the structure to float and the formation of air pockets in the box-like structure are prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a continuously operating automatic submerging machine in which the articles to be submerged are suspended from a conveying means, a means for insuring the proper submerging of open box-like structures within the baths.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in an' automatic submerging machine, means for tilting the open box-like structure when it is being submerged in proper directions to cause proper submerging of the open box-like structure and to prevent the tendency of the structure to float and to prevent the formation of air pockets therein.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accom- 40 .panying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a continuous automatic submerging machine embodying the invention. The figure has necessarily been broken in the middle in order to be properly located on the sheet;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 disclosing one of the submerging tanks embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the engagement of the lifting mechanism which removes the articles from one tank to another;

Fig. 4 is a View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a lifting arm and lifting hook in engagement therewith, and

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged view of one of the links upon the upper portion of the conveyor chain.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown, for the purposes of illustrating my invention, a continuous automatic submerging machine having a plurality of submerging tanks in series designated by the reference characters 2D, 2!, 22, 23, and 24. Inrorder 'to carry the articles to be immersed through the submerging tanks, there is provided a conveyor mechanism having a pair of upper tracks 33, and a pair of lower tracks 38, only one of which is shown, each of which are supported by the end uprights 15, 16, 11, and 18 as well as the lifting frames 58, 19, 88, 8|, 82, and 83. A pair of continuous conveyor chains 21, made of links connected by pins, are supported upon the upper and 20 lower tracks. The articles to be immersed in each of the submerging baths are first attached by means of a suitable hook, such as the hook 6|, to a carrying rod, such as that designated by the reference character 26, which in turn is carried along by the pair of endless conveyor chains 21. The carrying rod 26 is more clearly shown in Figs.

3 to 6 inclusive and has engagement members 28 at either end which are provided with a pair of feet '29 which engage pins 30 which connect the links 30 3| of the conveyor chain. The engagement member 28 is provided with a pair of rollers 32 on its "upper side which support the carrying rod when moving along the upper track 33 as shown in Fig. 6. The engagement member 28 is provided 3 5 with a lifting arm 34 which extends therefrom and which is provided with a forked end 35 which is adapted to engage a T-shaped lifting hook 36 at proper times which is attached to and moves with the lifting chain, such as a lifting chain 31 A0 shown in Fig. 1. The carrying arm is first carried along the lower track 38 until it approaches one of the lifting chains such as the lifting chain 31. The lifting chain 31 is driven by a sprocket 39 which in turn is driven by the worm 40 and worm wheel M which are driven by a longitudinal worm shaft 42 by a worm 43 and a worm gear 44 at the other end of the shaft. The worm shaft 42 as well as the conveyor chain 21 are driven by an electric motor 45 through the chain 46. The .50 conveyor chain 21 is driven by the sprocket 41 and passes over the sprockets 48, 49, and 10- cated at the ends of the upper and lower tracks. The conveyor chain 31 and the worm gear shaft 42 are so geared together that the lifting chains ,5 5

31 are driven at a proper speed and in such a relation that when the carrying arm approaches 'a tank, the lifting hook, such as the lifting hook 36, will engage the forked lifting arm such as lifting arm 34, thereby raising the carrying rod and the article to be submerged over the end wall of the tank and then lowering the article into the tank. .The lifting chains such as the chain 31 are supported by a lifting frame 50 which is provided with a sprocket at its upper end and a second sprocket 52 at its lower end. The lifting frame 50 also has tracks 53 at either side for supporting the lifted chain.

As stated in the initial portion of the specification, trouble was had in obtaining proper submerging of open box-like structures, such as the linings of the food compartment of the refrigerator cabinet, in the submerging bath. These linings such as the one designated by the reference character 60 in Fig. 2 are suspended from the carrying rod 26 by means of a hook 6|. The hook is placed toward the closed side of the open box-like structure 60 so that, when the structure is removed from the submerging tank the open box-like structure will tip towards its open side and allow the liquid in which it has been submerged to drain out of the structure. While being drawn through the submerging bath shown in Fig. 2, the structure maintains its .vertical position by reason of the drag of the liquid thereon. On'being withdrawn, however, it assumes the position of the structure '62 shown in dotted lines so that all of the liquid will drain off properly.

In order to obtain proper submerging of the open box-like structures within the submerging bath, which has its liquid level designated by reference character 63, I provide a narrow cam means 64 which has an inclined upper side 65 which is properly located under the downward conveying portion of the lifting apparatus so that the lower edge adjacent the open side of the box will strike this inclined surface at the proper time. When the bottom of the box-like structure,

such as the one designated by reference character 66 in Fig. 2 strikes the inclined upper surface 65 of the cam means 64, the bottom will be thrown forwardly so that the rear edge adjacent the open side of the box-like structure will first engage the submerging bath when the box-like structure reaches the top level of the submerging bath. In this way the floating of the box-like structure is prevented.

As'the box-like structure engages the inclined oam surface 65, it moves downwardly Itherealong a 68. On passing down this vertical cam surface 68, the box-like structure is slowly moved to a more vertical position. The cam means 64 is herrower than the open box-like structure so that r it can enter into the open side thereof. *At the \end of the vertical cam surface there is a-second inclined cam surface 69 which recedes from Position.

the vertical cam surface 68. When the box-like structure reaches the 'end of the vertical cam surface 68, it has acquired rotary inertia due to the slow turning from the position designated by the reference character 68 to a more vertical 'This inertia will tend to cause the box-like structure when it is engaged by the horizontal conveyor chamber. This will cause the open box-like structure to move counterclockwise to a position shown in dotted lines and designated by the reference character 10. In the position 10 the top portion of the open box-like structure is just at the liquid level designated by the reference character 63 and the box structure has been tilted to such a position that the open side is slightly turned upward so that air which would otherwise be trapped in the upper corners of the box structure may readily escape at this time and prevent the formation of air pockets. Inasmuch as the cam means BI is narrower than the box-like structure, the vertical surface 68 can enter the open portion thereof.

By employing such a cam means which cooperates with the lifting mechanism to overcome the problem of proper submerging, I have made it practical to submerge open box-like structures in a continuous automatic submerging machine.

While the form 'of embodiment of the invert-- tion as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope'of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is'as follows:

1. A machine for submerging an open box-like structure in a submerging bath including'a tank containing a submerging bath, means for introducing and guiding said open box-like structure into the submerging bath including cam means cooperating with said box-like structure for tipping the openbox-like structure in one direction 'when the bottom portion thereof enters the submerging bath and for'tipping the open box-like structure in another direction when the top portion thereof enters the submerging bath to insure proper submerging of the open box-like structure.

' 2. A machine for submerging an open box-like structure in a plurality of submerging baths including a plurality of tanks each containing a submerging bath, means for removing the open box-like structure from the submerging bath in one of the tanks and submerging it into the bath in another tank, means cooperatingwith said last mentioned means to tilt the open box-like structure to insure proper immersion, and means for transferring said open box-like structure from one of said removing and submerging means to another of said means.

. 3. A machine for submerging an open box-like structure in a plurality of submerging baths including a plurality of tanks each containing a submerging bath, means for removing the open box-like structure from the submerging bath in one of the tanks and submerging it into the bath in another tank,.said box-like structure being removably suspended by said means to'support said box-like structure with its open side turned rearwardly, and cam means within one of said tanks and cooperating with said last mentioned means and said box-like structure for tilting said boxlike structure to insure proper immersion. V 4. The method of subjecting an open box-like structure to a submerged liquid bath whichcomprises .lowering the box-like structure into the liquid with one of the edges of the open side first, completely submerging the'structure, moving the structure with a horizontal component extending in the direction of the bottom sideof the structure, and removing said structure from the bath with one of the edges of the open side last.

5. A machine for submerging open box-like structures in a submerging bath including a tank containing a submerging bath, a traveling supporting means for freely supporting the open box-like structure and for introducing the open box-like structure into the submerging bath, and guiding means for tipping the freely supported open box-like structure first in one direction so that one edge of the open side first enters the submerging bath and then tipping the open boxlike structure in another direction so that another edge of the open side is the last portion of the box-like structure to enter the submerging bath.

6. The method of subjecting an open box-like structure to a submerged liquid bath which comprises lowering the box-like structure with one of the edges on the open side first entering the liquid, then tilting the box-like structure so that another of the open sides enters last, moving the box-like structure horizontally, and then removing the open box-like structure from the bath with one of the open sides the last to leave the bath.

7. A machine for subjecting open box-like structures to a submerging bath comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid, means for introducing the open box-like structures into the liquid, means for tilting the open box-like structures first in one direction and then in an opposite direction during the submerging of the boxlike structures to cause an edge on the open side of the box-like structure to first enter the liquid and an edge upon the open side to enter the liquid last.

8. A machine for subjecting open box-like structures to a submerging bath comprising a tank adapted to contain .a liquid, means for introducing the open box-like structures into the liquid, means for tilting the open box-like structures first in one direction and then in an opposite direction during the submerging of the box-like structures to cause an edge on the open side of the box-like structure to first enter the liquid and an edge upon the open side to enter the liquid last, and means for removing the open box-like structure from the liquid with an edge on the open side leaving the liquid last.

9. A machine for subjecting open box-like structures to a submerging bath comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid, suspending means for suspending the open box-like structures with an edge of the open side lowermost, means for moving the suspending means to lower the open box-like structures into the liquid and then to lift the open box-like structures out of the liquid, and means'for tilting the open boxlike structures during the lowering operation so that an open side enters the liquid last.

10. A machine for subjecting open box like structures to a submerging bath comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid, means for introducing open box like structures into the liquid including means for oscillating the open box like structures to cause an edge on the open side of a box like structure to first enter the liquid and another edge on the open side to enter the liquid last.

CECIL A. MANN. 

